The men of the Anti-Crude Oil Theft Patrol Team of the Forward Operating Base of the Nigerian Navy, Igbokoda, Ondo State, have apprehended 28 individuals suspected of pilfering 527,810 liters of crude oil from offshore locations.
Over the past five days, the Navy military team conducted strategic arrests at various spots in the Awoye riverine community of Ilaje Local Government Area, resulting in the capture of the alleged oil thieves.
Captain Wasuku Alushi, the Commanding Officer of the Forward Operating Base, shared details of the operation at the naval base in Igbokoda on Friday.
Captain Alushi revealed, “Our team intercepted a wooden boat, commonly referred to as a ‘Cotonou Boat,’ loaded with approximately 12,000 liters of crude oil around Illepte offshore at Awoye riverine community in Ilaje.”
“Based on credible intelligence, our men of the anti-crude oil theft and illegal oil bunkering team intercepted the large wooden boat and 11 men on the ground transshipping the suspected stolen crude into another boat as the first Cotonou boat was taking in water. Two other speedboats were also arrested alongside the wooden boat.”
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The Navy Commanding Officer also revealed that in the preceding week, a vessel weighing 15,000 metric tons, named Mt Vinnalaris 1 Lagos, was apprehended along with 17 suspects at a location seven nautical miles off the Awoye riverine community.
The vessel was found actively engaging in the illicit siphoning of approximately 515,870 liters of stolen crude oil from a wellhead operated by CONOIL at the Ebesan Oil Field.
Alushi explained that the primary objective of the base was to function as a force multiplier for the Western Naval Command.
Its specific focus was to enhance efforts in policing, with a primary aim of eradicating issues such as crude oil theft, illegal bunkering, and other criminal activities in Igbokoda and the surrounding areas.
“The suspects and exhibits would be handed over to the appropriate agency of the government for further action,” he noted.